Chaedt



A Tram/Exif Patentedl Feb. 18, 1896.

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CORSET FASTENING. 10.554,648.

UNITED STATES PATENT QEEICE.

OSVALD F. E. BORCHARDT, OF NFNV YORK, N. Y.

CORSET-FASTENING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 554,648, dated February 18, 1896.

Application led June 29, 1895. Serial No. 554,414. (No model.)

.similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

This invention relates to corsets, and the object thereof is to provide improved means for fastening the steels of the corset together, in which a sliding plate or bar is provided, by means of which the hooks, which are connected with pivoted links, are operated, and in which all the hooks may be released at the same time by pulling on the sliding plate or bar.

The invention is fully disclosed in the following specication, of which the accompanying drawings form a part, and in which-- Figure 1 is a front View of the front steels of a corset; Fig. 2, a rear view of one of said steels; Fig. 3, a view, on an enlarged scale, of the construction shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 4, a section on the line 4 4 of Fig. l, only one of the steels being shown in section; Fig. 5, an edge view of the steel shown in Fig. 2, showing also a protectioirplate which I employ; and Fig. 6 represents a detail of the construction.

In the practice of my invention I provide a steel A of theusual form, on one side of which is formed the usual projections B, which are provided with conical-shaped eyes or openings b, the apex of which is directed outward, and the base of which is also convex or rounded, as clearly shown in Fig. l.

The steels A and C are, as will be understood, the front steels of the corset, by means of which the front sides of the corset are united, and in my improvement the steel C is provided, opposite each of the eyes or openings b with hooks D, which are pivotally connected with the steel C and with one end of a link E. (Shown in dotted lines in Figs. 2 and 3 and in section in Fig. 4.) The other end of the link E is pivotally connected with a plate or bar F by means of a pin G, which passes through a vertical slotH, formed in said plate, and is provided with a-circular head K, as shown in Fig. 3, and it will be observed that one of these links is employed for each of the eyes or openings b of the steel A.

The upper end of the plate or bar F is secured to one end of a spring L, the other end of which is secured to the upper end of the steel C, and the plate or bar F is also provided on its front edge with a series of notches M and N, which are triangular in form, as shown in Fig. 2, and said notches are arranged in pairs between each of the hooks D, and the lower wall of the upper notch of each pair is inclined downwardly and the upper wall of the lower notch of each. pair is inclined upward, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, and these notches are adapted to engage and operate in connection with the pins O, which are formed on or secured to the steel C.

In operation, when it is desired to fasten the corset, the separate steels or stays A and C are brought together in the usual manner, and the plate or bar F is pulled downward by means of a cord P, attached to the lower end thereof, in which operation the said plate or bar F will be forced downward by means of the pins or projections O, operating in the notches or recesses N, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, and the hooks D will be turned in the reverse position, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. l, in which position they will pass through the eyes or openings b in the projections B, as will be readily understood, after which, by releasing the cord P, the plate or bar F will be drawn upward by means of the spring L, when the hooks D will be turned in the position 'shown in full lines in Fig. l, when the separate steels will be securely locked together. When the plate or bar F is drawn downward to the lowest position, the pins O will rest in the slots or recesses M, and the hooks or projections will be shown in the position indicated by the dot-ted lines in Fig. 1, and after the plate or bar has been drawn upward by the spring L, as hereinbefore described, the said pins or projections will rest in the notches N, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, in which position the steels A and C are locked together.

In the position of the plate or bar F shown in Fig. 3 the hooks D will be in a vertical position, as will be readily understood, and it is only when the plate or bar F is drawn to the lowest position that said hooks D will be in the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. l, and the pins O rest in the notches or recesses M.

Instead of operating the device as above described in locking the separate steels together, this operation may be performed by hand in the usual manner, in which case each individual hook will be connected with its corresponding eye, as is usual in this class of devices, and in this case the sliding plate or bar F is not to be operated until it is desired to unfasten or loosen the steels, at which time all that is necessary is to pull downward, as before described, upon the said plate or bar F until the hooks D are in the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. l, and the pins O, connected with the steel C, rest in the notches or recesses M of the sliding bar. I have also shown in Fig. 5 a cover R, composed of thin spring metal, preferably of brass, which is attached to the steel C at each end, and which is intended to cover and conceal the plate or bar F, but which is at the saine time so connected with the steel C as not to interfere with said plate or bar or the operation thereof, as hereinbefore described.

As shown in the drawings, the cover R eX- tends for only a part of the length of the steel C and the bar F; but it will be understood, of course, that in practice this cover extends the full length of these parts, and I prefer also to have it so attached to the steel and so formed that the central portion thereof will extend outward and not be, in the normal position of the parts, closely in contact therewith throughout its full length.

In Fig. G one of the projections B, connected with the steel A, is shown on an enlarged scale for the purpose of more clearly illustrating its forni and the form of the eye or openin g therethrough.

It will be understood, of course, that Fig. 2 is a rear view of the steel (l, shown in Fig. l, and that the notches or recesses M and N in the sliding plate or bar F are in the edge thereof which is adjacent to the steel A.

It is evident that changes in and modifications of the construction shown and described may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention, and I therefore reserve the right to make such alterations therein as fairly come within the scope thereof.

Having fully described my invention, I

claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The combination with corset-steels, one of which is provided with projections having eyes or openings formed therein, of hooks pivotally connected with the other steel, adapted to be passed through said eyes or openings, each of said hooks being in operative connection with means by which they can be turned so as to enter the said eyes or openings, and securely lock the steels together, said means consisting of a sliding bar and links which are pivotally connected with said sliding bar and secured to said hooks, substantially as shown and described.

2. The combination with a pair of corsetsteels, one of which is provided with projections having eyes or openings therein, of hooks pivotally connected with the other steel, links secured to said hooks, the formerbeing pivotally connected with the sliding plate or bar, said plate or bar being provided with notches or recesses, the lower walls of a portion of which are directed downward, and the upper walls of the others being directed upward, pins connected with said steels to which the sliding plate or bar is connected, and adapted to operate in said notches or recesses, and means for operatin g said sliding bar, substantially as shown and described.

3. The combination with a pair of corsetsteels, one of which is provided with projections having eyes or openings therein, of hooks pivotally connected with the other steel, links secured to said hooks, the former being pivotally connected with the sliding plate or bar, said plate or bar being provided with notches or recesses, the lower walls of a portion of which are directed downward, and the upper walls of the others being directed upward, pins connected with said steels to which the sliding plate or bar is connected, and adapted to operate in said notches or recesses, and means for operating said sliding bar, consist-ing of a spiral spring connected with the upper end thereof, and with the steel, and a cord connected with the lower end thereof, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name, in presence of two witnesses, this 20th day of June, 1895.

OS\VALD F. E. BORCIIARDT.

lVitnesses L. M. MULLER, A. M. CUsAcK.

IOO 

